Florida vs. Jennifer Carty- Verdict

Jennifer Carty is charged with DUI manslaughter in the death of her friend Ravin Billington. Just a little while after midnight on 9-27-07 there was a roll-over accident that left one dead and another injured. The police claim that Jennifer Carty was driving when she lost control of her car and crashed into a ditch. Investigators claim that both women were intoxicated at the time of the incident and further say that Carty was driving the car. The defense states that they can’t prove that Carty was the driver of the vehicle. As aforementioned, Carty is charged with DUI manslaughter and if convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison.

Verdict:

After an hour and 15 minutes of deliberation, Jennifer Carty was found not guilty of DUI manslaughter.

i feel that it really don’t matter whom was driver they both were over the limit and now jen has to ask herself everyday what was so special about me that i had to stay here ?? why not me. why her?? .my heart goes out to the families because the lost two daughters. i feel that the boys should have taken them home but when you are young you do not think something like this will happen to you. i also do not feel that it would have been right to send this young women to prison because she is already doing time a life time living with the guilt of the what ifs and knowing that everyday her best friend is never gonna share the dreams and goals that they had hoped for.no one will truly know who was driving but god and ravin .and if it jen does know well she lives with the guilt is’nt that enough to bare. what would sending her to prison accomplish???

This really touched me, I have no idea really why, I do not know either one of the girls…I dont even live in the same state. But I have kept up with this everysince i found out about it, maybe its because I am the same age as Ravin…idk. But I 100% absoulty disagree with the verdict. Rather or not Ms. Carty was driving or not she should still be punished with a DUI manslaughter. Even if she wasnt driving she should have been smart enough to know that she shouldnt be in a car in the drivers seat or passenger seat if someone was that drunk. If she knew to take off her shoes when she went into that store, then she knew she should not be in a car or with another person in a car under the influence! And then she should know who got into the drivers seat. Either way of the matter, I strongly belive that she got away with murder. She may not have commited it but her ” best friend ” is dead. And Ravin deserves justice.
My deepes prayers go out to Ravins family, even though justice might not be served here on earth, it will be served when people answer to the big guy.

I do not know either one of the girls…I dont even live in the same state. But I have kept up with this everysince i found out about it, maybe its because I am the same age as Ravin…idk. But I 100% absoulty disagree with the verdict. Rather or not Ms. Carty was driving or not she should still be punished with a DUI manslaughter. Even if she wasnt driving she should have been smart enough to know that she shouldnt be in a car in the drivers seat or passenger seat if someone was that drunk. If she knew to take off her shoes when she went into that store, then she knew she should not be in a car or with another person in a car under the influence! And then she should know who got into the drivers seat. Either way of the matter, I strongly belive that she got away with murder. She may not have commited it but her ” best friend ” is dead. And Ravin deserves justice.
My deepes prayers go out to Ravins family, even though justice might not be served here on earth, it will be served when people answer to the big guy.

I wonder who close the two girls were. Ravin’s Facebook page has four of her friends and Jennifer is not on there. Maybe Ravin didn’t maintain her Facebook page or maybe not during that time period, but I thought it was interesting. Also, Ravin’s mother said the girls had just started their friendship recently (at that time). Also, contrary to what Jennifer’s mother said, Mrs. Billington said Jennifer never even came to the house to apologize or anything. She said the families stopped talking to each other because of Jennifer’s family’s lack of compassion. I know this destroyed Jenn’s life, but it took Ravin’s, and the whole situation is so, so sad.

no offense i know ravin and her family and her mother was an enabler to her partying. on her last birthday she had a party at her house with her mother present and everyone was drinking. She only turnded 17 and everyone was drinkin. there are pictures to prove this so i think to put blame and have jenn serve time is ridiculous if ravins mom doesnt want to serve the same sentence of 15 yrs.

i dont care how horrible of a mother anybody has… the law is the law. if and when you have kids im sure you will make many mistakes maybe not the same ones but it happens, he mother did NOT kill her… a car accident did… and her mother was not driving the car… her mother did not drink and drive, im in the USMC and do you even understand how serious DUIs are? they kill EVERYDAY. DUI took my cousin whether she or her “BFF” was the driver. But i strongly believe Ms.Carty was the driver and guilt too bad grow up and serve your sentence DUI need to be a serious matter and not let off so easily, if it was vice versa id know id say Ravin should be in jail.

i have been keeping up with this case n watched it on court t.v.,and i have to say i am relieved for Ms.Carty that the verdict went in her favor.All of them were drinking that night and no one was sure of who the driver was.That’s what this country is about,the justice system anyway.There was DOUBT that she was the driver,therefore she should have been acquitted;as she was.Although tragic for all involved,she is gonna have to live with the regret of that night for the rest of her life but should not be held responsible.

I live in this town, I went to school with these girls and the boys as well. I know who they are not on a personal level but I’ve partied with them once or twice. I am close with people that were close to both of the girls as well as the boys. First of all, they both knew exactly the situation they were getting into, getting into a car wasted without seatbelts driving wrecklessly. The boys are lying underoath about the girls not being with them and being drunk as well, everyone in this town drinks and parties, there is nothing else to do here. I’ve been to parties at Gary’s house and my best friend used to go there all the time. They knew who was driving, because when someone passes you it is instinct to look into the passenger window so they are going to see who is sitting in it therefore, by elimination, there is only two people in the car and they know who was driving they just won’t admit it.. And how is Tyler saying that he didn’t know who passing him when they are video taped all together at the BP, so if they are together there and someone passes them not even a half an hour later and “he didn’t know it was them,” he is full of shit. My own opinion is they are covering up for Jen, because honestly if Ravin was driving they would have fessed up and said so because what else are they going to do to the poor girl, she’s gone. Which is screwed up because Ravin was their friend too and her death is in vain now because they aren’t being honest so justice can be served.

Let me correct myself, I do not think Jen deserves 15 years but she deserves atleast a DUI or for the DUI manslaughter atleast to be on her record and it to be known what happened. I just don’t think it is fair to Ravin and her memory that everyone is lying.. She deserves for people to know the truth. They are basically throwing her under the bus for lack of better words.

i think it is pretty amazing i hear ravin’s mother pushed for this charge but to search pictures on ravin’s familys myspace pages there are pictures of her drinking bud light bottles with her family even older members 50+. I am so sorry jenny noone was there for you and made you feel like this was all your fault. as said before if you werent driving she was and you were both drinking doing the same thing.

I believe that it’s Ravin’s fault as well as Jenn. I’m pretty sure Jenn didn’t force her to get in the car with her if she was in deed the one driving. Ravin could have easily called her parents to pick her up, but she didnt . Or why didn’t she put her seatbelt?? If she cared any tiny bit about her life she could have atleast put that seatbelt on.

Jenn had admitted to Ravin’s stepfather that she remembered that she was driving and remembered the accident but when he told police they said it would be inadmissable because it was hearsay and he was on the victim’s side. Was Jenn crying out of fear right before the verdict? Maybe one day the guilt will get to her enough to tell people the truth. I’m not saying that they both didn’t contribute to this. They both were drinking heavily and they both got into the car. Ravin didn’t even have a valid driver’s license at the time from a previous ticket. Why would anyone think that she was driving?

yea im pretty sure she was driving the car… but ravin was old enough to make decisions on her own.. and she choose not to put a seat belt on!!!!!!! if the seat belt would have been on im pretty sure we wouldn’t be having this talk right now. because she would have been alive.
or like sandra said why didn’t she call her parents to pick her up. she made poor decisions that ended up costing her life, and if the verdict said jennifer was innocent was because god wanted it that way. he knows what happened and according to him jennifer is innocent!

Jenn will have to live the rest of her life knowing what part she played in this horrific tragedy. I hope she can turn her life around in memory of Ravin’s tragic ending. People needn’t be judge or jury here, Jenn is the one that has to face her god one day and answer for the things she has done in her life. Don’t you think she lives day to day knowing what people in her town are thinking about her? Peace be with Jenn as Ravin already has hers.

I didnt know either one of the girls but i have followed the story since i saw it on In Session. I was unaware of the verdict so i found it on here. I agree with the verdict myself bc they cant prove who was driving that car…they were both thrown out of the car..so how could Jenn remember..im sure she doesnt remember any of what happened just what was told back to her…Maybe the guys did know who was driving but maybe they arnt so sure of theirself thats why they didnt want to say something and not be postive of it. Jenn has to live with the death of her friend everyday. I think thats enough for someone to have to go through…like someone else said asking herself why am i still here? no one really knows what happened that night except the girls and whoever they were with…we cant make assumptions

As a retired paramedic (24 yrs), I know this scene must have been horrific, – and so incredibly avoidable. For the rest of her life, Jennifer Carty will be haunted by that night, not out of guilt or shame, but simply because it happened and someone died.

A most permanent result of a moment of bad judgement.

As a medic working this type of call, you can’t help but see the big picture of trauma and grief. Everybody belongs to somebody and many lives will be forever changed because of Ravin’s death. My heart hurts for those who feel such loss.

Death does not discriminate, but we can use good judgment even when it is socially awkward. Don’t let anyone drive if they are impaired in any way. They might get angry that you took the keys, but at least they will be alive long enough to get over it.

SOUNDS TO ME THAT THE ENTIRE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION WAS HANDLED WRONG. I AGREE ALL INVOLVED THAT NIGHT KNOWS WHAT TRULY HAPPEN, BUT LAWYER, PARENT, WHO EVER TOLD THEM TO TELL A DIFFERENT STORY. ITS SAD.. YOUNG LIVES DESTROYED AND THE TRUTH COULD HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LEARNING LESSON TO MANY.

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